Permittees
The following requirements for existing permittees to transfer permits are described in Fish and Game Code Section 8681.5:
- Possess an existing, valid General Gill/Trammel Net Permit.
- Provide satisfactory evidence that the permittee has landed fish for commercial purposes in 15 of the preceding past 20 years.
Transfer Applicant for a Permit
- In order to receive a General Gill/Trammel Net Permit from an existing permittee, an Applicant must hold a current California Commercial Fishing License and provide proof of having met the requirements in sections (1), (2), and (3) summarized below (see California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, Section 174(b)):
(1) Either:
- worked as a crewmember for at least 12 months on vessels using gill nets or trammel nets and worked at least 180 days at sea on such vessels; or
- passed a proficiency examination administered by the CDFW that includes written and performance tests which demonstrate knowledge of the proper use of gill nets or trammel nets.
(2) Either:
- as the owner or operator of a registered commercial fishing vessel, provide proof that he or she has landed at least 10,000 pounds of fish during a 12-month period or has landed fish during a 12-month period for which he or she was paid at least $10,000 (only landings of fish caught by the use of gill nets or trammel nets will be used to satisfy the catch requirements of this subsection); or
- as the owner or operator of a registered commercial fishing vessel, provide proof of landing at least 1,000 pounds of fish taken in gill nets or trammel nets in 4 of the 5 license years prior to the date of application; or
- possessed a permit issued pursuant to this section during the previous season and completed and submitted a fishing activity record of all gill net and trammel net fishing activities on a Gill Net and Trammel Net Logbook, (a permittee targeting highly migratory species, as described in Title 14, Section 1.49, and using drift gill net gear with a minimum 14-inch or greater mesh size, as described in Fish and Game Code Section 8573, is exempt from the logbook requirement).
(3) Only landings and crewmember experience occurring during the five-year period prior to the date of application shall be used to meet the combination of requirements outlined in paragraphs (1) and (2) above. The applicant shall supply documentation that he or she was a licensed commercial fisher when the required landings or crewmember experience requirements were met. Crewmember experience shall be documented by fishing records submitted to the CDFW, Marine Fisheries Statistical Unit or by a notarized document signed by the owner or operator of vessels on which the applicant has completed the required experience. Landings of fish shall be verified by the submission of copies of landing receipts.
Application Process
To facilitate the review of the transfer request, the CDFW suggests that a party to a transfer submit the following items:
- A written request to transfer the General Gill/Trammel Net Permit, and the name, Commercial Fishing License identification number, and address of the Applicant.
- The permittee’s original current General/Gill Trammel Net Permit.
- Provide satisfactory evidence, such as a letter of verification obtained from the CDFW’s Marine Fisheries Statistical Unit, that the permittee has landed fish for commercial purposes in 15 of the preceding past 20 years.
Applicant
- A written request to receive the transfer of the General Gill/Trammel Net Permit.
- Proof of meeting the specific transfer requirements described above for Applicants. The Applicant shall supply documentation that he or she was a licensed commercial fisher when the required landings or crewmember experience requirements were met. Crewmember experience shall be documented by fishing records submitted to the CDFW, Marine Fisheries Statistical Unit or by a notarized document signed by the owner or operator of vessels on which the applicant has completed the required experience. Landings of fish shall be verified by the submission of copies of landing receipts.
- A copy of the Applicant’s current California Commercial Fishing License.
In addition, the CDFW must receive a $100 transfer fee from a party.
Mail the documents and transfer fee to:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Attention: License and Revenue Branch
PO Box 944209
Sacramento, California 94244-2090
Evaluation of complete transfer requests will take approximately 20 business days after receipt by the CDFW’s License and Revenue Branch. If additional documentation is required, evaluation of the transfer request may take longer. If approved, a letter authorizing the transfer will be sent to the proposed permittee and existing permittee.
If you have any questions about the transfer requirements or application process, please contact (916) 928-5822 or LRBCOMM@wildlife.ca.gov.